Marina Vladi French actress Date of Birth: 10.05.1938 Country: France

Marina Vlady: A Life in Art

Marina Vlady (born Ekaterina Marina Polyakova-Baidarova) was born on May 10, 1938, in the town of Clichy-la-Garenne, France. Her parents were Russian, but they had emigrated to Europe in the early 20th century. Marina's father, Vladimir Polyakov-Baidarov, served in the French army as a volunteer during World War I. After the war, he became an artist, singing in the Paris Opera and the Monte-Carlo Opera. Marina's mother, Militsa Envald, was a ballerina living in Belgrade, where she met her future husband during his tour.

Marina was the youngest of four daughters, and each of them had a connection to the arts. In her childhood, Marina attended the choreographic school at the Grand Opera, although she did not become a ballerina. Her ability to move gracefully and perform on stage would later serve her well in her acting career. At the age of 11, Marina made her film debut in the movie "Summer Storm" (1949), in which she had a small role alongside her sister. Although her first role was not a breakthrough, Marina showed great potential as an actress and started receiving invitations from not only French but also international directors.

In 1952, Marina starred in the Italian film "Black Feathers," alongside the legendary Marcello Mastroianni. At the time, Marina was 15 years old, while Mastroianni was 27. The beautiful Frenchwoman with Russian roots instantly captivated the actor, and he fell in love with her. According to Mastroianni, Marina was not conventionally beautiful, but there was something about her that struck him from the first glance. Despite Mastroianni's advances, Marina quickly shifted her attention to another heartthrob, Marlon Brando. However, Brando was more reserved than Mastroianni and did not reciprocate Marina's feelings. The actress regretted that they never had a real romance.

Marina Vlady had many admirers, including Orson Welles and Jean-Luc Godard, but she was searching for true love. In 1955, she finally found it. Her chosen one was actor Robert Hossein, known for his role as Count Joffrey de Peyrac in the "Angelique" films. Despite their 11-year age difference, Marina and Robert lived together for five years and were considered the most beautiful couple in French cinema. Despite the birth of their sons Igor and Pierre, their marriage did not last long.

After her divorce from Robert, Marina vowed never to marry again, but she broke her promise. In 1963, she married Jean-Claude Brialy, a pilot who owned his own airline in Africa. Marina gave birth to their son Vladimir, but three years later, they separated. Meanwhile, Vlady shone in the film industry, becoming one of the most popular European actresses. The film "The Sorceress" (1956), a loose adaptation of Kuprin's novel "Olesya," was a great success in the Soviet Union and topped the box office. In 1963, Marina received the prestigious Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in the film "The Beehive." It was a true triumph for her.

In the late 1960s, Marina Vlady visited the Soviet Union for the first time. There, she met her greatest love, Vladimir Vysotsky. The legendary singer and actor captured Marina's heart from the first glance, from the first word. It happened at the Taganka Theater after Marina watched the play "Pugachev." That same evening, they met. Vysotsky told Marina that he had been in love with her since the day he saw her in the film "The Sorceress." However, he was married, and she had three children. Despite the obstacles, Marina returned to the USSR for a film shoot. At one of the parties, when everyone had left, Marina and Vladimir were left alone and spoke about their love all night. They could not delay any longer, and in January 1970, they got married. Many books have been written about their romance, but no one described it as accurately as Marina herself. According to Vlady, Vysotsky was the greatest passion of her life. It was not the same kind of love she experienced with other men; it was a true passion.

Marina and Vladimir hoped that after their marriage, Vysotsky would be allowed to leave the USSR, but it was just an illusion. Moreover, Vysotsky could not live in France. According to Marina, he felt like a prisoner in Russia and an unwanted person in France. Despite his immense popularity, the authorities did not recognize Vysotsky. His records were not released, his poems were not published, and some of his plays were later banned. But the most terrifying thing for Vladimir and Marina was that they could not be together all the time. Vysotsky started drinking and eventually became addicted to morphine. In the late 1970s, his health deteriorated rapidly, and in 1980, the great musician passed away. Vladimir's death shattered Marina. She said that her marriage to Vysotsky destroyed her. Vlady fell into a severe depression and even attempted suicide. To overcome her despair, she turned to Dr. Leon Shvartsenberg, an oncologist who had treated her sister for cancer. They became close friends and eventually got married in 1981. Marina and Leon spent 23 years together, going through various trials.

In 2003, Shvartsenberg, who had fought cancer his whole life, passed away from the disease. Marina was left all alone, and to numb her pain, she turned to alcohol. According to the actress, she felt that her life was over. She had lost her loved ones, and her children were far away. However, her beloved dogs and writing helped her cope. Marina realized that the world of illusions was kinder and calmer than the real world. This realization led her to write the famous memoir "Vladimir, or the Interrupted Flight" and about twenty other books.

Marina Vlady buried two husbands and almost lost her son as well. A few years ago, Igor was involved in a car accident and remained in a coma for a long time. His daughters, Marina's granddaughters, tragically died in the same accident. Since then, as Vlady claims, she is no longer afraid of death. She has come to understand that the greatest happiness is simply living. Now, she must live not only for herself but also for those she has lost.